Changes at the Rude Mechs, Austin

Rude Mechs announces two changes in their executive staff:

Co-Founder, Co-Producing Artistic Director Sarah Richardson moves into new role as CoPad Emeritus. 

“Once a Rude, always a Rude,” said Ms. Richardson. “My role is changing but my stripes never will." While she is no longer an active Co-Producing Artistic Director, Ms. Richardson remains devoted to the company. She will stay on as a company member of Rude Mechs, and in her Emeritus role will continue to participate in strategic initiatives that support the company’s future.

"I tried for a while to follow a more conventional theatrical career path, but my heart was searching for the kind of artistic home that I finally found in Rude Mechs,” said Ms. Richardson. “Being a CoPad has been the defining role of my life in the theatre and I wouldn't have had it any other way." She expects to remain active in the local theatre community, when she's not chasing after a toddler and two cats.  

"It's the end of an era for sure having one of our founders leave the active artistic directorate," said founding Co-Producing Artistic Director Madge Darlington. "But luckily, Sarah will remain close at hand--a vital part of our collective and community." 

Alexandra Bassett joins Rude Mechs staff as Managing Director

Rude Mechs Co-Producing Artistic Directors Madge Darlington, Thomas Graves, Lana Lesley, Kirk Lynn, and Shawn Sides have hired Alexandra Bassett to fill the newly created position of Managing Director. 

Since 2004, Rude Mechs' staff has operated with five part-time staff members and they have remodeled the staff structure very little, until now. Said Board President Bonnie Reese, "With the rising demand for the Rudes to make and perform their work across the country, it’s a relief to know we have such a capable powerhouse in Alexandra to hold down the Austin fort and enable them to spend more time focused on the work itself. We are thrilled to have Alexandra as the first Managing Director of Rude Mechs."

Ms. Bassett worked with Rude Mechs in New York City on their Lincoln Center Theatre production of Stop Hitting Yourself in January 2014 before moving to Austin last Fall. "It made absolute sense that Alexandra was moving to Austin just as we were creating the position. We knew we had to grab her up quickly. We loved our time with her in New York last year, and she brings exactly what we need - energy, ideas, fresh eyes, and a great brain - we couldn't be luckier to have found her," said CoPad Lana Lesley.

"I am thrilled to be joining Rude Mechs as their Managing Director," said Ms. Bassett. "This nationally celebrated Austin-based theatre collective has been invigorating the American theatre landscape for over nineteen years with their bold ensemble-created works. It is an honor to partner with the Co-Producing Artistic Directors, the Board, and staff to carry on Rude Mechs' deep commitment to the city of Austin and its vital artistic community as we build on the outreach and education programs at The Off Center and continue to serve as a cultural hub for Austin audiences and artists of all disciplines."

About Alexandra Bassett  Ms. Bassett is a founding member of the NYC-based theatre company FullStop Collective where she formerly served as Artistic Director of their annual Foreplays festival and as Marketing Director for the company. She has worked in various capacities with theaters and performing arts organizations in New York and Connecticut including the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, The Play Company, Inception to Exhibition (ITE), and Shen Wei Dance Arts. Ms. Bassett holds an MFA in Playwriting from Columbia University, a BA in Psychology from Georgetown University, and she is an alumna of the National Theater Institute. She currently resides in Austin with her fiancé, playwright Patrick Shaw.